Raptors at 76ers
Two of the better teams in the Eastern Conference square off when the Toronto Raptors visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. The Raptors are in second place in the East behind the Milwaukee Bucks while the 76ers aren't far off the pace after winning seven of their past 10 games.
Toronto dropped three of four games before rebounding with a 121-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. The Raptors will be looking to see All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard bounce back after he failed to reach the 20-point mark in back-to-back games - including 18 points against the Clippers. Philadelphia is opening a four-game homestand and aiming to recover from a 115-108 road loss to the Sacramento Kings. "It was one of those games where they kept throwing punches," 76ers point guard Ben Simmons told reporters. "We didn't respond the right way."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, TSN (Toronto), NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (38-16): All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry (back) sat out against the Clippers to once again raise concerns about his health. Lowry missed 10 of 11 games in a three-week stretch earlier this season due to an aching back and Toronto is hoping the latest issue is just a quick flare-up. Fred VanVleet started against Los Angeles and had nine points, seven assists and three steals against two turnovers in 26 minutes of action.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (34-19): All-Star center Joel Embiid registered 29 points and 17 rebounds in the loss to Sacramento for his fifth straight double-double and he is averaging 29.6 points and 16.2 rebounds during the stretch. Embiid is averaging 22.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in three games against the Raptors this season but equaled his season low of 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting in a 113-102 loss to Dec. 5. Small forward Jimmy Butler scored 29 points against the Kings after having just seven on 3-of-12 shooting two nights earlier against the Golden State Warriors.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors won two of this season's three meetings but the 76ers rolled to a 126-101 win on Dec. 22 when the teams met in Philadelphia.
2. Philadelphia SG JJ Redick, who made at least three 3-point baskets in nine of his last 10 appearances, will return to the lineup after being held out for rest against the Kings.
3. Toronto PF Serge Ibaka has recorded a career-best six straight double-doubles, the franchise's best such streak since Chris Bosh had eight straight in 2009.